Sean McDonald took Northbrook from the Lib Dems’ Diane Jones. He said:”I’m absolutely delighted. It has been an exhausting campaign.”

Castle ward winner Luke Proudfoot (Con), said; “It was very close, I was quite nervous and I always knew it was going to be close between myself, UKIP and the Lib Dems. I was out most nights after work and at weekends.”

The Conservatives ran out victors in Heene, but the Greens were a surprise in second place.

Diane Guest, the victorious candidate, said: “I am over the moon. I have got to say thank you to everyone.”

A tearful Bob Smytherman, who saw off the UKIP surge in Tarring to win for the Lib Dems, said he was relieved to win.

He said: “I am sorry to my Lib Dem colleagues who have lost their seats today but I am grateful to be a Lib Dem, who will hold the administration to account.”

In Goring, Conservative Mark Nolan polled over 1,400 votes, nearly 600 ahead of UKIP. He said: “We are fighting pretty hard on the issues that matter and we are not going to let other parties deflect attention from the matters people want to talk about.”

Gaisford victor Kevin Jenkins (Con) said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s a great day for the people of Gaisford and the people of Worthing. It’s been a good result for the Conservatives.”

Another win for the Conservatives occurred in Marine, with Edward Crouch eclipsing the challenge of former mayor Charles James, of UKI. He said: “It’s good news for Marine ward. I’m absolutely committed to making sure the votes I have got are put to good use.”

Louise Murphy (Con) held Offington after John Rogers resigned. She said: “I’m elated. I’m ecstatic. I am over the moon. I took nothing for granted, I have invested into the community,”

Worthing’s first Green seat went to James Doyle in Central ward, beating the Conservatives by just nine votes. He said: “I am so pleased for everybody who worked incredibly hard on this campaign. The first step is convincing people the Green Party is going to count for something.”